Playing with fire

So, I have Dr. H for my microprocessors and system analysis courses. And he is the most amazingly calm and sarcastic guy I've ever met. Seriously, if you do something stupid, he will make fun of you (often subtly, so few realize he is mocking). Unlike other profs, who don't know how to deal with Luke, Dr. H has actually made him stop on a number of occasions, armed with only a combination of hand gestures and smart-ass remarks.

Naturally, coupled with the course material, I hit it off well with Dr. H at the beginning. However, as the term progressed, his paticence with me seemed to be decreasing. Taking the hint, my friends and I made a pact not to ask any questions, or make any comments. Under penalty of physical violence.

This wasn't enough. Two classes ago, he singled me out, and said "I can't keep up with you, [legolas], and I'm not going to try.". He seemed barely able to keep his cool. Taking the hint, I realized "Hmph... he doesn't like my whispering. Okie, no more verbal communication for the entire class."

Then came last class. My friends and I were down to written communication (notes), to be as undesruptive as possible. I was paying attention to the class (as I had been doing other assignments in class before, and this seemed to have added to his annoyance). And, most of all, for the 60 minutes of class, I didn't make any sort of audiable noise.

As my friend said in a note at the beginning of class, "How much do you want to bet he'll yell, at you, even though you're not talking?" What seemed to be humourous at the time turned out to be a sign of things to come.

Things were going well, a few dirty looks aside. And then one friend of mine asked the other for the date (so they could date their notes).

KABOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

He turns from the board, and stares straight at me (I was taking notes at this time), and says...
"You know, [legolas], you are a real pain in the ass. If you can't be quiet, leave." (or something to that effect).

The entire class was in shock (myself most of all). First of all, on account of my silence, most people (myself most of all) were confused why he was yelling at me for talking. Additionally, his eyes were fanatical, his face red, and if he could breathe fire, I'm certainly sure he would. Gone was the lovable Dr. H we look forward to, replaced with the physical incarnation of pure fury.

And now here I am. I have 2 classes with Dr. H tomorrow, and I'm worried. I managed to take someone with more zen then budda himself, and unlock his fury, without even doing anything. Naturally, I'm going to sit in the back row, away from my friends, and making no distracting movements at all - which is all I really can do.

I mean, hell... he actually HIRED Luke for a work term! And (this is not an exageration) Luke is one of the most God-awefully annoying people you'd ever meet. And *I* unleashed his wrath! What the hell?!?!?!

So, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Any advice or insight into what could cause this to happen would be great. (I'm personally shocked, since I like to think of myself as a pretty easy going and cooperative sort of guy).

-legolas

	Ah legolas, you sly dog! (4.50 / 2) (#1)
	by RobotSlave on Tue Nov 27th, 2001 at 08:31:16 PM PST

	I think somone has a crush on you, tiger! © 2002, RobotSlave. You may not reproduce this material, in whole or in part, without written permission of the owner.

	I think back on all my past professors (4.00 / 1) (#2)
	by motherfuckin spork on Tue Nov 27th, 2001 at 08:35:01 PM PST

	and I am very, very glad that none of them had a crush on me... nor did I ever have a crush on any of them. I can only think of one that was even remotely attractive, and she was my wife's advisor, and is still a friend of ours. I am not who you think I am.

	The only professor I ever had a crush on... (4.00 / 1) (#9)
	by hauntedattics on Wed Nov 28th, 2001 at 01:34:05 PM PST

	...was my 20th Century Europe professor. He was a studly visiting prof from Milan with a name like Dario or Mario or some such. He had these liquid brown eyes and this lovely accent and...sigh... ahem Legolas, it may be that even though you were being quiet, your professor knew you were passing notes in class and it annoyed him. You'd be surprised how aware profs are of what is going on in their classrooms. Of course, he could have a crush on you as well. Or just be mentally unstable.

	About notes (none / 0) (#10)
	by legolas on Wed Nov 28th, 2001 at 01:45:07 PM PST

	We really weren't making any secret about passing notes (we were sitting next to each other). The whole point of the exercise was to convert our conversation from verbal format to written format, in an effort to be courtious to the professor. It's not like grade school, when you had to hide the fact you were drinking in class... ... ... ... (Drinking cola, of course). That evidently didn't work. Anyhow, I sat in a different row from my peers today, in an effort to give him some cool down time (although, the term does end on Monday). It seemed to work well, although he still did give me The Look Of Death�. Also, I noticed that my compatriots were uncharacteristically quiet today, so maybe I was the instigator after all. I should work at harnessing this ability I evidently have. -legolas

	It's just a little crush. (none / 0) (#3)
	by legolas on Tue Nov 27th, 2001 at 08:49:23 PM PST

	Not like I faint every time we touch. It's just some little thing. Not like everything I do depends on you. -legolas

	It doesn't take a scientist (4.00 / 1) (#5)
	by RobotSlave on Tue Nov 27th, 2001 at 09:03:24 PM PST

	To understand what's going on, baby. If you see something in my eye, Let's not over analyze. © 2002, RobotSlave. You may not reproduce this material, in whole or in part, without written permission of the owner.

	ahhh, the memories (4.50 / 2) (#4)
	by osm on Tue Nov 27th, 2001 at 08:51:57 PM PST

	one of my majors was math. which means i had to spend a lot of time with the head math guy, he being one of my advisors, etc. the guy was one of the biggest assholes i've ever known. he was constantly criticizing me in front of whatever class for not showing up for ceremonies to accept an award or not showing up to class or whatever else he could think of. of course, he was a drunk and liked to flirt with the same girls as i did. in the end, i quit showing up for class altogether. they were pretty useless anyway, since the book actually made sense where Dr. W would consistently get lost in the middle of working a problem. last i heard, he had ended up in the hospital for a while for some reason (the informant didn't know why). but i know why. moral of the story: one needs a functioning liver after all.

	Something else going on? (4.50 / 2) (#6)
	by SpaceGhoti on Tue Nov 27th, 2001 at 10:10:30 PM PST

	Either there's something you're not telling us, or there's something he's not telling you. Have you thought of stopping by during his office hours and asking him why he's so upset with you? If you explain how you've been trying your hardest to not be disruptive during class, yet he's losing his patience with you when he keeps it for everyone else, he ought to be adult enough to explain what it is that's bothering him. Whether or not you can reconcile your differences after that depends on what the problem is. I wish you luck. A troll's true colors.

	Obviously threatened (4.00 / 1) (#7)
	by Hagbard Celine on Wed Nov 28th, 2001 at 10:09:48 AM PST

	He's obviously threatened by your masculine prowess and cannot bear to be in the same room with you due to his insane jealousy. Might it be that you have crossed paths with him while walking with a lady? This may be it. Most professors are sexless lonely beings who cannot bear the thought that anyone might approach their intellectual level. You should drop an anonymous note to him inviting him here. We shall show him the error of his ways. And I don't know Luke, but he's obviously annoying. Find a "loose woman" and convince her to infect him with some venereal disease. He'll never know what hit him. PPPFFFTT

	Good on paper, but... (none / 0) (#8)
	by legolas on Wed Nov 28th, 2001 at 01:10:35 PM PST

	Your idea for taking Luke out of the picture sounds good -- if I was an arts (or biology) student. Unfortunately, engineering (electrical engineering, especially) is notorious for its lack of women. A stud muffin like myself has enough trouble, so the odds of finding a so-called "loose woman", much less convincing her to sleep with Luke, approches infinity. Laura isn't even an option, since she exhibits strong lesbian tendancies. Also, the thought of a love-child between Luke and Laura, should contraception fail, is almost unbearable. But thanks for your input! -legolas

	A prior femme roommate of mine was an EE. (4.00 / 1) (#11)
	by luisa on Wed Nov 28th, 2001 at 08:15:53 PM PST

	As in electrical engineering candidate. She was an elec/french double major, blonde, petite and dated tall attractive men frequently. We were often mistaken for each other as we had rather similar physical attributes and voices. Presently she is an electrical engineer. However, as she is not Canadian, I doubt this anecdote is at all helpful to legolas.